LITTLE RHODY

Homey, humorous family adventures in the days of the commode and the gas light take little Rhody Sperry, four brothers and sisters, a very Scotch mother, and a history teacher father from New York out to a new farm home in Michigan. Growing pains and happy times include spats between young Ned and Russell, Little Rhody's wish to be called Rhoda on her tenth birthday, a new puppy, tomboy Caryl's independence, and Anne's more sophisticated flirtations with a neighbor's son. A vein of seriousness deadens many would be funnier situations, but it's a fine family book for those recurrent aging problems.